Documents Unravel America's Regime Change Operation in Bangladesh
Amidst the complexity of global politics, the revelation that the United States government has set in motion a plan to remove the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, is a startling development. Documents obtained by The Sunday Guardian indicate that this covert operation, orchestrated by various U.S. government agencies and affiliated organizations, aims to destabilize the Bangladeshi political landscape and install a more favorable regime.
This article delves into the intricate details of this alleged plot, exploring the key players, the strategies employed, and the potential ramifications for Bangladesh, India, and the broader geopolitical landscape.
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Unraveling the U.S. Plan: Regime Change in Bangladesh
The documents reviewed by The Sunday Guardian provide a comprehensive view of the U.S. government's efforts to orchestrate a regime change in Bangladesh. The plan, which was set in motion in early 2019, involves a multi-pronged approach executed by various U.S. government agencies and affiliated organizations, including the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the International Republican Institute (IRI).
Let us understand what NED and IRI really do.
What is National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and its Regime Change work
On June 8, 1982, US President Ronald Reagan gave a speech that is known as "The Westminster Address". It was a call to establish democracy around the world as a competing idea for the Soviet-led Communist ideology. There Reagan clearly laid out how democracy promotion would be a key strategic tool to fight Soviet-led Communist structure. Interestingly, at that very nascent stage itself, he (and the architects) had the inherent guilt that this entire operation was an instrument of "cultural imperialism", which it essentially was.
The objective I propose is quite simple to state: to foster the infrastructure of democracy – the system of a free press, unions, political parties, universities – which allows a people to choose their own way, to develop their own culture, to reconcile their own differences through peaceful means. (Source: NED)
This speech then became the basis for the creation of the National Endowment of Democracy (NED) one year later. An organization that funds "Democracy Promotion" programs around the world.
“Forty years ago, President Ronald Reagan challenged the free world to ‘foster the infrastructure of democracy.’ He argued that support for freedom in other countries was not cultural imperialism, and that it was in fact cultural condescension to believe people anywhere prefer dictatorship to democracy. With the Westminster speech, he inspired the creation of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and its four core institutes, including IRI, one year later. (Source: IRI Statement on 40th Anniversary of Westminster Speech / International Republican Institute)
Behind the veneer of the altruism of "Democracy Promotion" was the need to hide the subversive activities of the CIA and give them a legitimate facade. NED was the means for achieving that.
"A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA." - Allan Weinstein, Founder of National Endowment for Democracy
NED was not working alone. It was working with other operatives. George Soros was one of them.
“A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA,” agrees Weinstein. The biggest difference is that when such activities are done overtly, the flap potential is close to zero. Openness is its own protection. Allen Weinstein is just one of many overt operatives who helped prepare the way for the political miracles of the past two years by sponsoring exchanges and other contacts with liberal reformers from the East. It’s worth naming a few more of them, to show the breadth of this movement for democracy: William Miller of the American Committee on U.S.-Soviet Relations; financier George Soros of the Soros Foundation; John Mroz of the Center for East-West Security Studies; John Baker of the Atlantic Council; and Harriett Crosby of the Institute for Soviet-American Relations. This has truly been a revolution by committee. (Source: Innocence Abroad: The New world of spyless Coups / Washington Post)
So, we know that the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is an American covert intelligence operative agency that uses "Democracy Promotion" as a tool for subversion. But it is not alone.
Other Western organizations in the West have similar goals and modus operandi. For example the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) also ostensibly "promotes democratic practices and institutions in developing democracies". In collaboration with partner organizations, it enhances the institutions of democracy, primarily focusing on political parties, parliaments, and civil society institutions.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has been a close partner of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) since 1992, when it was founded.
And so it’s a great pleasure for me to address this forum of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Henry Jackson Society. The Westminster Foundation has been the NED’s partner in the United Kingdom since it was founded in 1992 and we organized a forum where its representatives were able to explain the new organization to a Washington audience. (Source: A FORWARD STRATEGY FOR DEMOCRACY PROMOTION IN 2008 AND BEYOND: REGAINING THE MOMENTUM, THE HOUSE OF COMMONS)
This is the organization - the NED - that has been instrumental in doing the regime change in Bangladesh per these documents.
The Role of U.S. Government Agencies and Affiliated Organizations
The key players in this scheme include senior American officials such as Chris Murphy, Sumona Guha, Donald Lu, Sarah Margon, and Francisco Bencosme, who have overseen the program. These individuals, alongside the NED, USAID, and IRI, have worked tirelessly to implement the plan, which aims to undermine the current Bangladeshi government and bring about a regime change.
The documents reveal that the IRI, a Washington-based organization, was the primary implementer of the "Promoting Accountability, Inclusivity, and Resiliency Support Program (PAIRS)" project, which ran for 22 months until January 2021. This program, funded by USAID and NED, was designed to "enhance the political participation of Bangladesh citizens and amplify anti-authoritarianism voices" through a broad-based social empowerment initiative.
Undermining the Awami League and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
The documents indicate that the U.S. government's plan was aimed at countering the dominance of the Awami League party, which has been in power for the past ten years with the support of India. The IRI's program sought to "counter-balance India's interference" and challenged the Awami League's grip on power, which it deemed to be "increasingly hegemonic."
The IRI's efforts included supporting marginalized communities such as the Biharis, plainland ethnic groups, and the LGBTI community, as well as engaging with student activists and political party representatives from both the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The goal was to amplify "anti-authoritarianism voices" and create a more pluralistic political landscape, ultimately undermining the Awami League's dominance and paving the way for a regime change.
Manipulating the Political Landscape: Fostering Dissent and Disruptive Narratives
The U.S. government's plan to oust Sheikh Hasina involves a sophisticated strategy of manipulating the Bangladeshi political landscape through various means, including the creation and amplification of dissent and disruptive narratives.
Amplifying Voices of Dissent
According to the documents, the IRI's PAIRS program focused on empowering marginalized communities and fostering their political engagement. This included issuing advocacy grants to artists, musicians, performers, and organizations to create content addressing political and social issues. These efforts, which reached nearly 400,000 Bangladeshi citizens, were aimed at "raising public awareness on social and political issues in Bangladesh and supporting the public to challenge the status quo."
The IRI also worked directly with student activists and political party representatives, organizing workshops and roundtable discussions to bolster their understanding of inclusive and non-violent means of political participation. This strategy was designed to create a groundswell of anti-government sentiment and empower opposition voices within the Bangladeshi political landscape.
Leveraging the COVID-19 Pandemic
The documents reveal that the U.S. government's plan also sought to capitalize on the COVID-19 pandemic, which was seen as a potential destabilizing force for the Bangladeshi government. While the pandemic did not ultimately lead to the desired outcome, the IRI's program was adapted to respond to the changing political context, including the Bangladeshi government's use of the Digital Security Act to curb online dissent.
Exploiting Marginalized Communities
The IRI's program specifically targeted marginalized communities in Bangladesh, including the Biharis, plainland ethnic groups, and the LGBTI community. By supporting these groups and amplifying their voices, the U.S. government's plan aimed to create a sense of political fragmentation and undermine the Awami League's perceived dominance.
Undermining India's Influence: The Geopolitical Implications
The U.S. government's plan to oust Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League from power in Bangladesh also has significant geopolitical implications, particularly with regards to India's influence in the region.
Countering India's Dominance
The documents obtained by The Sunday Guardian reveal that one of the key objectives of the U.S. government's plan was to "counter-balance India's interference" in Bangladesh. The Awami League's close ties with India have been a source of concern for the U.S., which seeks to diminish India's regional influence and assert its own strategic interests in the South Asian subcontinent.
Implications for India-Bangladesh Relations
The successful implementation of the U.S. government's plan would have far-reaching consequences for the relationship between India and Bangladesh. The removal of the Awami League, which has maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties with India, could potentially lead to a shift in Bangladesh's foreign policy orientation, potentially aligning the country more closely with U.S. interests and diminishing India's regional influence.
Potential Ramifications for Regional Stability
The destabilization of Bangladesh's political landscape could also have broader implications for regional stability. The fragmentation of the country's political system and the emergence of a less predictable and more volatile government could have ripple effects throughout the region, potentially undermining economic and security cooperation initiatives.
Navigating the Challenges Ahead
The revelations surrounding the U.S. government's plan to oust Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League in Bangladesh have profound implications for the country's political future, as well as the broader geopolitical landscape in South Asia. The involvement of senior American officials, the sophisticated strategies employed, and the potential ramifications for India's influence in the region underscore the need for a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of this complex issue.
As Bangladesh and the international community grapple with the implications of this revelatory information, it is crucial that all stakeholders engage in a constructive dialogue to address the underlying concerns and ensure the stability and sovereignty of the Bangladeshi state. The preservation of democratic institutions, the protection of human rights, and the fostering of regional cooperation should be the primary priorities as the region navigates these uncharted waters.